Cook county health children's mental health initiative - careconnect youth (CCY) will establish a community-based, school-linked system of care to improve access to behavioral health services for…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded Cook County Health Bureau $999,999 on September 30, 2026, under the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbances program (CFDA 93.104).

Cook County Health will establish CareConnect Youth, a community-based, school-linked system of care to improve access to behavioral health services for children, youth, and young adults ages 5–21 with or at risk for serious emotional disturbance across Cook County, Illinois. Over four years, the project will provide care coordination to 1,850 youth and treatment services to 1,000. Services will include a centralized point of access, school-based screening, standardized assessment, and evidence-based interventions: trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents, parent-child interaction therapy, family-based treatment, and high-fidelity wraparound. Expected outcomes include faster access to services, improved engagement and clinical outcomes, stronger cross-system coordination, and expanded access to community-based behavioral health care for underserved youth and families.

The award period runs through September 29, 2030, with place of performance in Chicago, Illinois.

Cook county health children's mental health initiative - careconnect youth (CCY) will establish a community-based, school-linked system of care to improve access to behavioral health services for children, youth, and young adults ages 5-21 with or at risk for serious emotional disturbance across cook county, illinois. The project will provide care coordination to 1,850 youth and treatment services to 1,000 over four years through a centralized point of access, school-based screening, standardized assessment, and evidence-based interventions, including TF-CBT, CBT, DBT-a, parent-child interaction therapy, family-based treatment, and high-fidelity wraparound. Expected outcomes include faster access to services, improved engagement and clinical outcomes, stronger cross-system coordination, and expanded access to community-based behavioral health care for underserved youth and families.